WNBA players all spend their offseason in different ways. After the grind of the regular season and playoffs, players get a chance to reflect on the season and how to improve. They can also take an extended break to rest, or some get work in overseas.
For Sabrina Ionescu, she is currently on a well-deserved break after the Liberty’s run to the WNBA Finals in 2023.
Donning the Red, White and Blue
It has been a memorable year for Ionescu. She continued to expand her reach off the court with the debut of the Sabrina 1. Her SI20 Foundation has held events in New York and across the country; she and the Liberty made their first Finals appearance since 2002; with the 2024 Olympics on the way, she has a chance to represent the USA on the global stage. Everything is trending up for the young star, and 2024 could be her best season yet. But before she gets there, there is some other business she has to tend to.
On Nov. 7, Team USA held media availability in Atlanta. Ionescu was one of the players who spoke with the assembled media via Zoom
At the presser, we asked Ionescu how this year’s Finals run will help her game grow.
“Yeah, understanding that I finally am able to have those experiences under my belt are just kind of set me up for the future when I have to go through those situations again,” Ionescu said. “Obviously through college, it’s not the same. It’s not the same as playing in a Finals, in a semi-finals, in a World Cup. And so being able to continue to just grind through the process of having those experiences and playing on the highest level, it’s just going to set me up for what’s to come.”
The Liberty are in a great position heading into next season, and Ionescu is a big part of that. She has improved each year and is a steady all-WNBA player. With the changes made on the team before last season, Ionescu took on a new role and flourished in it. Her steady improvements have not gone unrecognized.
At exit interviews, GM Jonathan Kolb spoke about Ionescu and her growth.
“I thought she was phenomenal in terms of her historical increase in percentage from three at a really high volume,” Kolb said. “It’s really a game-changer for a team, especially us. [We’re] really proud of her to do that. Going forward, we’re looking to get to the rim more, finishing at the rim at a high percentage. The exciting thing about Sabrina is she’s so good, second team All-W and well deserved, but there’s more to do and I think she knows that too.
And so, she’s gonna come back even better and I think that’s exciting for fans and also myself, and the coaches and the players as well. So I think for her, it’s just continue to expand. Last offseason was the first offseason she actually had to work on her game and I think you all saw the results of that. So, [I’m] excited to have her do that for a second consecutive year.”
Since Ionescu arrived in 2020, the Liberty have continued to improve. They are one step away from completing their unfinished business, and Ionescu will play a big part in that.
Game Recognize Game
After Ionescu completed her media availability, Diana Taurasi also spoke with reporters over Zoom. Taurasi has been on the Olympic team five times, walking away with gold all five times. She is one of the best athletes to ever suit up for USA Basketball and is hoping to make it 6-for-6 in Paris in 2024.
The United States women’s national basketball team is arguably the most successful in U.S. sports today. The team has established a standard of excellence stretching across many eras. As the team transitions to another new era, young players like Ionescu and Jackie Young will pick up where players like Taurasi left off and continue to make the United States the premier country for basketball.
Gotta Get Up!
It’s the WNBA offseason, but that doesn’t mean the party is over. On the latest edition of ‘Gotta Get Up,’ Erica Ayala, Misha Jones and I took a look back at the 2023 New York Liberty season.
We discussed:
- Game 4 of the Finals
- A 2023 season in review
- Best games and moments for the Liberty
- An early look ahead to free agency
- Players who might be on the Liberty’s radar
- More!
As we move through the offseason, The Local W will keep you up to date on all things surrounding the Liberty on and off the court.